Something New

Thank you to P&G’s Have You Tried This Yet? program and Kroger for sponsoring my writing about trying new things and breaking out of my everyday routine. Click here to find great savings on high-performing P&G products at a Kroger store near you. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Image Rockie Nolan

A while ago, I was reading a short little article on how "Twilight" books changes people. However, of course it does! Everything we do - everything we see - everything we come across and every experience that we experience, we are changed by it and effected in some way.

When I think of something that I've done in my life that has changed me, I think of a lot of little things, that when put together, makes something huge. One of these things that has changed me, I believe, is beginning to blog.

I began to blog two years ago, with my book blog. The whole experience really been quite experimental and I had fun trying it! However, I then began to focus on this blog, which developed into a fashion/design blog, and that's where things really became clearer and changes started happening. As I began to explore the blog world, I realized a whole different way of life. I was able to see things and gather ideas from sources that I never before new existed! I started reading blogs such as Sara Klassens, Sewing in No Mans Land, The Pioneer Woman, Twig and Thistle, and various Scandinavian blogs.

By reading these blogs, I began to find my style. My writing style. My fashion style. My life style. Even my music style! I have a huge love for indie/folk music now. I began to not care if other people didn't like what I wore because it was "different." Yesterday I wore my glitter oxfords from Urban Outfitters to a 4H meeting. Hahaha!

I also found myself being more creative, with fashion, with event planning, with sewing, and other endeavors. I also have found myself wanting to learn about different techniques that I never even considered before such as mixed media, and interior design.

I really believe that blogging has helped me become a more confident and creative person. What changes have you had in your life that have helped you?

5 Fabulous Bloggers

Thanks to Trop 50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 fabulous wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to help grant a friend's wish!

When I first started blogging, I started with a young book blog, over two years ago. I stumbled upon the blogging world after I found a Random Buzz, the publisher’s site for teens to earn free books, and more. I was thrilled when I found out about the world of young adult book blogs, and spent hours writing reviews and learning about the upcoming books for teens. Fast forward a few months, I find a completely different world of blogging, a world were design, inspiration, classy Vogue like fashion was abounding and when I found this new niche and the many lovely blogs to go a long with it, I was hooked and began this blog as my own type of inspirational/Design/Fashion blog!

I hope you enjoy this list of some of my own favorites, which I check back for new posts almost daily, in hopes to be inspired.

Kitty Gallannaugh

Daydream Lilly ~ This is a blog that you won’t want to miss. It is stuffed full with design, photography, and fashion inspiration, frilly, feminine, unique and romantic is what I think of when I think of Daydream Lilly.

The Drifter and the Gypsy ~ When I’m on the search for design inspiration, the two blogs that I head to first, in correspondence with each other is Daydream Lilly and The Drifter and the Gypsy. If you are a fan of Daydream Lilly, this blog will also become a frequent stop!

Image: The Pioneer Woman

The Pioneer Woman ~ Have you heard? Have you heard of Miss famous Ree over at The Pioneer Woman? If you haven’t, please, scurry over and find yourself spending hours scrolling through her confessions, photography, cooking, or homeschooling posts and be prepared to be delighted! Something about her writing style hooks you in a mere matter of sentences!

Casey’s Elegant Musings ~ Casey, from Casey’s Elegant Musins, blogs all about her wonderful vintage sewing adventures! She has a few great tutorials, and hundreds of great posts! I love her style, way of writing, and outlook on life.

White Hot Truth ~ Your going to love this blog! It is full of inspiration and tips to creating the best business plan possible for you. Danielle has an amazing style and voice for blogging. She knows how to get facts and plans to ya in a way that you will "get it" and want to put them in action right away!

What are your favorite blogs?

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to support a friend's wish. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses
Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

Make 2011 the best year for YOU

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Every year we make resolutions and goals to try to overcome bad habits or create new good habits. However, sometimes we forget to look at goals that help your physiological side - your thoughts and feelings, the way you look at life. Here are a few tips to help make your life better in the new year!

A change that I made in my life to enrich it and make it better is to work on following my creative pursuits and really just trying anything! I now find inspiration in anything, the way the ocean waves come in, a crooked smile, someone teaching another photography. Another thing that I changed in my life that really helped make it better was to just be myself! I live in the middle of the country, with horses and cows all around. I love riding and do hunter jumping, but Western is the "thing" where I live. I have learned to follow what I love even though it is not what others often do. I think following your dreams is the most important thing, not caring what other people think.

1) Schedule YOU time. This is the perfect way to help you feel refreshed, relaxed, and have a happier out look on life. It also gives you something to look forward to. In your YOU time, do something that you love, take an hour aside to take the yoga class you've been wanting to take, read a great book, take a stroll on the beach, there are so many options!

2) Create! Don't ever say that you don't have a creative bone in you, everyone does! Whether its sewing, knitting, graphic designing, or interior design, you just have to find the type that suits you! When you create, your life is enriched because you have a focus, and something to work on.

Dreams

3) Learn to look at life in a positive way. Don't say "I can't do that!" and laugh it of, instead say "sure, I'll try!" and learn how to do it if you have the will, it can happen. It's not a lie, when people say that you can do anything you want to if you have the try to do it - look at the two girls who are mermaids - they followed their dreams, you can as well!

4) Write out how you would like people to see you as. What kind of personality do you want others to see you have? Write them down and then think about how to act on these and make them more vibrant in your life.

~#4 for me: For me, I would like people to see me as someone who isn't afraid to express herself and her opinions. I feel like in our current ambassador program, we really need this and I would also like to encourage others to express themselves as well. I would like to do this by stepping up and saying what I think would make an event/topic better and opening it up to discussion for other people to add to.

These are just a few great ways to enrich your life in 2011, do you have other ideas?

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Simply Orange® blogging program. If I am one of the first 65 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 Target gift card and a gift pack that includes a Simply Orange® cooler bag and logoed fleece."

Kitchen Design - Bar Stools

I pour myself over home styling. I will read blogs, catalogs, magazines, looking for inspiration and ideas to decorate homes. In fact, I dream of becoming an interior designer!

Kitchens are a very important part of the your house, they are a place used everyday (unless you eat out a LOT!), and it is important to make them suit your style and still be functional.

Here are a few that I love:

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Do you see the neat Bar Stools by the island? I found a similar one over at allbarstools.com that would help recreate the look in your own Kitchen:


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This is another beautiful kitchen, shown on the cover of Better By Design (September 2007). The black bar stools in it really help even things out and make it so that it doesn't look "overwhelming."

Allbarstools.com also has a very similar version of the bar stool:



Bar stools really can help give your kitchen the look that you are going for. They can also be used in other places, such as a game room, or if you own a bar of course, in your bar! There are a lot of different styles, so you are sure to find one that gives the finishing touch to your kitchen! All Modern Stools sells great bar stools and you can find one that suits your style, and your price range.

*This is a sponsored post that I wrote personally, brought to you by Allmodernstools.com even so, all opinions expressed are completely mine.